Revanth Reddy fails to meet Rahul Gandhi yet again

Development triggers intense speculations about the Chief Minister being cold-shouldered by the Gandhis 

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy failed to meet Congress MP Rahul Gandhi yet again, triggering intense speculations about whether he is being cold-shouldered by the Gandhi family.

Interestingly, Rahul and All India Congress Committee (AICC) chief Mallikarjun Kharge held a meeting with Jharkhand MLAs at Indira Bhavan in New Delhi but did not meet the Telangana Chief Minister and other Ministers accompanying him.

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During an informal chat with newsmen in New Delhi on Friday, the Chief Minister sought to make light of this speculation by asserting that he enjoyed cordial relations with Rahul Gandhi.

“I have not sought Rahul Gandhi’s appointment. People, who are unaware of my closeness with Rahul Gandhi, keep making different comments. I do not have to respond on every issue,” he maintained.

But the continued denial of an opportunity to meet Rahul fuelled speculations within the party. This was after TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud had specifically said that the Chief Minister along with Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, and others were flying to New Delhi to invite Rahul and Kharge for the two proposed public meetings at Suryapet and Gajwel.

The State team met Kharge and AICC general secretary K C Venugopal in the capital. Incidentally, Revanth met Rahul in August last. Possibly the reason for this could be Revanth’s government extending a red carpet to the Adani Group’s investments, complaints of rampant corruption, controversy surrounding the caste survey, and 10 MLAs’ secret meeting. These issues were engaging the attention of the party high command.

Further, the Chief Minister also announced that there were no plans for Cabinet expansion soon. The party high command would take a final decision on the Cabinet expansion and no recommendations were being made in this regard, he said.

As the news of the Chief Minister heading to New Delhi spread on Friday, aspirants for a Cabinet berth and nominated posts were keeping their fingers crossed but all their hopes were dashed. This time the MLC elections code was being cited as an excuse for the delay.